West demands in Iran nuclear talks unrealistic

A political analyst says the West must avoid making “unrealistic demands” in nuclear talks with Iran, Press TV reports.

In an interview on Saturday, Kaveh Afrasiabi said the Western side is making “unrealistic demands” of Iran during nuclear talks, which could be “seriously damaging” to the negotiations.

Afrasiabi added that the US demand, for instance, that Iran’s ballistic missiles be included in any final deal is “ridiculous” as the issue is part of the country’s military program and has nothing to do with its nuclear activities.

“So they (Western powers) have to be realistic and level demands that are balanced, are legal and reflect the standards, the parameters set by the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Unfortunately we are seeing a whole set of extra-legal demands that are excessive beyond the preview of NPT,” he noted.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the US, the UK, France, Russia, China — plus Germany wrapped up their latest round of nuclear talks in Vienna on Friday.

At a news conference following the end of the talks, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi said there was “no tangible progress” in this round of negotiations.

Earlier in the day, an official close to the Iranian nuclear negotiating team criticized the West for pursuing unreasonable and “excessive demands” during the talks.

Iran and the six countries have been holding talks to iron out differences and reach a final deal, which would end the standoff over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program.

Last November, the two sides signed an interim nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Geneva. The agreement came into force in January.